Henry County Divorce Records
Henry County divorce records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in McDonough and include all dissolution cases filed in this rapidly growing south Atlanta suburb, covering final decrees, custody and support orders, and property agreements. Users can perform a divorce decree lookup or access marriage records directly through official online portals, which allow searches by name, date, or case number and offer a reliable alternative to in-person requests. This page explains all the ways to find and obtain Henry County divorce records.
Henry County Quick Facts
Where to Get Henry County Divorce Records
The Henry County Superior Court Clerk is the official custodian of all divorce records filed in the county. The clerk's office is at 1 Courthouse Square, McDonough, GA 30253. You can reach the clerk by phone at (770) 288-8022. For more information about the clerk's services including document requests, the clerk's page is at henrycountyga.gov/265/Clerk-of-Superior-Court. Henry County is part of the Flint Judicial Circuit.
Divorce records are public in Georgia under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 unless a judge has entered a sealing order. Most Henry County divorce cases are accessible to any person who requests them. The clerk will confirm if a specific file has restricted access when you call or visit.
| Court | Henry County Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Courthouse Square, McDonough, GA 30253 |
| Phone | (770) 288-8022 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | https://www.henrycountyga.gov/ |
The courthouse is at Courthouse Square in downtown McDonough. Parking is available in the square and adjacent lots. Henry County has grown rapidly in recent years and the clerk's office handles a substantial caseload. Using the online tools to find your case number before visiting in person will make the process significantly faster.
The screenshot below shows the Henry County government website at henrycountyga.gov, which includes the clerk of superior court page with contact and service information.
The county website links directly to the clerk's page where you can find information on requesting divorce records and other court documents.
Online Search for Henry County Divorce Records
Henry County participates in the Georgia E-Access system at georgiacourts.gov/eaccess-court-records/. This free portal allows searches by name, date, or case number across Georgia's Superior Courts. For Henry County cases, you can search by any of these methods to find basic case information including filing date and case status.
The Henry County Courts website at henrycountycourts.org/marriage-and-divorce-records/ provides specific information on searching marriage and divorce records in Henry County, including links to online portals and guidance on what information you need to conduct a search. The GSCCCA at gsccca.org also indexes Henry County Superior Court filings and provides a free statewide search.
The screenshot below is from the Henry County government site showing an additional page of records services available to residents.
Note: Online portals make it possible to search Henry County divorce records by name, date, or case number from any device, offering a fast alternative to an in-person visit for basic research.
Henry County Probate Court and Marriage Records
Henry County's Probate Court at 99 Sims Street, McDonough, handles marriage licenses and maintains records related to marriage in the county. The Probate Court number is (770) 288-7600. If you need to trace a marriage that preceded a divorce filing, the Probate Court can confirm marriage dates and provide certified copies of marriage licenses.
The Probate Court and the Superior Court Clerk serve different functions. The Probate Court handles marriage licenses and certain estate matters. The Superior Court Clerk holds divorce records. If you need both a marriage license and a divorce decree, you will need to contact each office separately.
The screenshot below is from the Henry County Courts site at henrycountycourts.org/marriage-and-divorce-records/, which explains where to find both marriage and divorce records in Henry County.
The page explains the difference between marriage and divorce records and where each type is held in Henry County.
Henry County Divorce Filing Process
Georgia's residency requirement at O.C.G.A. § 19-5-2 requires that at least one spouse have been a Georgia resident for six months before filing. The divorce complaint is filed with the Superior Court Clerk in the county where the defendant resides. If the defendant lives outside Georgia, you may file in Henry County if that is your home county.
The grounds for divorce recognized by Georgia are listed in O.C.G.A. § 19-5-3. Thirteen grounds are available, and irretrievable breakdown of the marriage is the most common in Henry County uncontested cases. It requires no proof of fault. After filing and serving the other party, Georgia's 30-day waiting period applies before a judge can sign the final decree. Agreed cases often resolve close to that minimum. Contested cases involving disputes over children, support, or property take considerably longer and can stretch to many months in a busy court like Henry County's.
Free state-approved forms are at eforms.georgiacourts.gov. These cover uncontested divorces with and without minor children.
Legal Help in Henry County
Georgia Legal Aid at georgialegalaid.org serves Henry County residents who qualify based on income and provides free civil legal help with uncontested divorce filings and family law matters. The Georgia State Bar's Lawyer Referral Service can connect you with a private family law attorney in the McDonough area if your case is contested or involves significant property or custody issues.
Free forms for self-represented filers are at eforms.georgiacourts.gov. For a basic uncontested case in Henry County where both parties agree on all terms, many people use these forms to complete the filing themselves. The online portals for searching records make it easy to track case progress as well.
Divorce Decrees vs. Divorce Certificates in Henry County
A divorce decree is the complete court order from the Henry County Superior Court. It contains all binding terms of the divorce, including custody, support, property division, and any name changes. Certified copies come from the clerk. The decree is what most legal, government, and financial agencies require to verify a divorce with its terms.
A divorce certificate is a brief document from the Georgia DPH that covers only 1952 through 1996. A $10 verification at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords confirms the event but provides no terms. For remarriage, immigration, name changes, and custody or support enforcement, the certified decree from the Henry County clerk is the correct document regardless of the year of the divorce.
Nearby Counties
Henry County is in the south Atlanta metro area and borders several other active counties with Superior Court clerks for divorce filings and records.